I've been out and about all day, but in the meantime, the new Varsity Numbers went up earlier.
Oklahoma leaning on the pass has been a growing trend. In 2005, they ran 40.3 percent of the time on passing downs, the 20th-highest total in the country. That number has dropped every season, from 39.4 percent in 2006 (23rd), to 34.3 percent in 2007 (38th), to 25.0 percent in their record-setting 2008 campaign (104th), to 23.6 percent in 2009 (104th), to 23.0 percent in 2010 (112th). In the offseason, OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson left to take over the head coaching job at Indiana, and the reins were handed to co-coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell. Is this where the Sooners fall back into balance a bit? Possibly not. In fact, if their first game against Tulsa is any indication, OU might be doubling down. Oklahoma ran the ball just 11.5 percent of the time on passing downs -- a number that would place them among the lowest averages in recent history over the course of a full year (the only teams to run less frequently than that: 2007 Arizona and 2007 Texas Tech) -- and in a blowout win, no less.
Oklahoma heads to Florida State for an enormous matchup this weekend; the Seminoles have suffocated two cupcake opponents so far this season (UL-Monroe, Charleston Southern), but if last year's performance is any indication, the FSU defense should be quite strong against living, breathing opponents as well. Is this going to be another case where the Sooners' general predictability bites them?